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E.U.'s Policy Toward Burma



The following is the text that reflects EU's policy towards Burma.Please
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Thank you.

Sincerely,

Julien Moe
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EUROPEAN UNION
THE COUNCIL

COMMON POSITION
of
28 - 10 - 1997

defined by the Council on the basis of Article J.2

of the Treaty on European Union, on Burma/Myanmar


THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Article J.2
thereof,

HAS DEFINED THE FOLLOWING COMMON POSITION:

1.	The European Union, considering the recent discussions with Burma/Myanmar
at meetings in Jakarta and New York, is disappointed at the unwillingness of
the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) to enter into a meaningful
dialogue with it. The European Union reaffirms its determination to resume
such dialogue at any time.

2.	The European Union is concerned at the absence of progress towards
democratisation and at the continuing violation of human rights in
Burma/Myanmar. It deplores, in particular, the practice of torture, summary
and arbitrary executions, forced labour, abuse of women, political arrests,
forced displacement of the population and restrictions on the fundamental
rights of freedom of speech, movement and assembly. It condemns the
detentions in May and September 1996 of members and supporters of the
National League for Democracy (NLD). It calls for the immediate and
unconditional release of all detained political prisoners. The NLD and other
legitimate political parties, including those from ethnic minorities, should
be allowed to pursue freely their normal activities. It calls on the SPDC to
enter into meaningful dialogue with pro-democracy groups with a view to
bringing about national reconciliation.

3.	The European Union recalls its great concern at the failure of the SPDC
to respect the results of the May 1990 elections and the subsequent
maintenance of the military role. It notes that the military regime has yet
to demonstrate convincingly its intention to establish civilian democratic
rule, within a credible time-frame. In addition, the European Union notes
the failure of the SPDC to demonstrate any willingness to respond to the
concerns of the United Nations General Assembly and the European Union.

4.	The European Union recalls that it has already requested the Special
Working Group on arbitrary detention and imprisonment to visit
Burma/Myanmar, the UN High Commissioner for human rights to take action
against Burma/Myanmar, and the Special Rapporteur on Burma/Myanmar to
investigate the circumstances leading up to, and surrounding, the death of
Mr James Leander Nichols.

5.	With a view to promoting progress towards democratisation and securing
the immediate and unconditional release of detained political prisoners, the
European Union

(a)	reaffirms the following measures already adopted:

(i)	expulsion of all military personnel attached to the diplomatic
representations of Burma/Myanmar in Member States of the European Union and
withdrawal of all military personnel attached to diplomatic representations
of the Member States of the European Union in Burma/Myanmar;
(ii)	an embargo on arms, munitions and military equipment (1) and suspension
of non humanitarian aid or development programmes. Exceptions may be made
for projects and programmes in support of human rights and democracy as well
as those concentrating on poverty alleviation and, in particular, the
provision of basic needs for the poorest section of the population, in the
context of decentralised cooperation through local civilian authorities and
Non-Governmental Organisations.

(b)	introduces the following, additional measures:
(i)	ban on entry visas for senior members of the SPDC and their families;
(ii)	ban on entry visas for senior members of the military or the security
forces who formulate, implement or benefit from policies that impede
Burma/Myanmar's transition to democracy, and their families; and
(iii)	suspension of high-level bilateral governmental (Ministers and
Officials at the level of political director and above) visits to Burma/Myanmar.

6.	The implementation of this common position will be monitored by the
Council, to which the Presidency and the Commission will regularly report,
and will be reviewed in the light of developments in Burma/Myanmar. Further
measures may need to be considered' In the case of a substantial improvement
of the overall situation in Burma/Myanmar, not only the suspension of the
aforementioned measures, but also the gradual resumption of cooperation with
Burma/Myanmar will be considered, after careful assessment of developments
by the Council.

7.	This Common Position shall take effect on 29 October 1997 for a renewable
six months period.

8.	This Common Position shall be published in the Official Journal.